9. 2007: Steve Spurrier loses off another missed field goal in Neyland
We all remember when the Florida Gators under Steve Spurrier lost to Tennessee football in 1998 thanks to five turnovers and Collins Cooper hooking a field goal in overtime. Well, Cooper wasn’t a reliable kicker, and those turnovers were forced by the Vols. So that didn’t involve a lot of luck.
In this game, however, UT was extremely lucky. The Vos, Georgia Bulldogs, and Florida Gators were all in a fight to win the SEC East, and the week before, Rocky Top suffered a blowout loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide. However, before this game, Georgia beat Florida, so the winner here would take the top spot in the East.
The Vols dominated early and went up 21-0. However, they cashed in on numerous South Carolina turnovers. No matter. Turnovers are forced, not luck. Here’s where it gets crazy. Early in the second half, Spurrier went for it on 4th and goal from beyond the five and didn’t get it. That proved costly as his team came back to tie it up and then take a late lead with a field goal.
Trailing 24-21 late, UT had the luckiest drive ever, Lamarcus Coker had an epic kickoff return to put the Vols in field goal range, four days before he would be dismissed from the team. Arian Foster then fumbled the ball into field goal range, but Eric Young fell on the ball.
Then, with seconds left, Daniel Lincoln nailed a 48-yarder to send the game into overtime. However, he missed on his first try and got a second chance thanks to a false start by the Vols. Lincoln gave the Vols the lead in overtime with another field goal.
South Carolina tried to tie it up with a field goal from Ryan Succop. Well, Succop would miss his only kick from inside 45 all season, as he hooked a 41-yarder, giving the Vols the win. UT would cash in on two more missed field goals down the stretch to win the East, but the 4th down call, that wacky drive and that miss made this the one game where they were truly lucky.